Combined third and traction rail for electric railways.



No. 753,803. PATENTED MAR. 1,1904. B. C. MORGAN. COMBINED THIRD AN DTRACTION RAIL FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAY S.

I ATPLIOATION FILED D130. a, 1903. N0 MODEL.

WLIEEEEEQ nonsasoe.

UNITED STATES fatnt'd March 1, 1904.-

PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND C. MORGAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO MORGAN ELECTRICMACHINE COMPANY, OF EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF WESTVIRGINIA.

COMBINEDYTHIRD AND TRACTION RAIL FOR ELECTRIC RAI'LWAYS.

SPEGIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 753,803, dated March 1,1904.

Original application filed August 27, 1902, Serial No. 121,193. Dividedand this application filed December 3, 1903. Serial No. 183,581- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND O. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Combined Third and Traction Rail for ElectricRailways, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combined third and traction rails for electricrailways, this application being a division of my pending constructedand arranged to be engaged by gearing carried by the truck and operatedby the motor thereon for causing the truck to move along the track.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination,location, and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, andfinally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views andreference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a broken detail view inside elevation of the third or traction rail construction embodying theprinciples of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the sameon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a broken detail view in top plan ofa combined third and traction rail embodying the principles of myinvention. Fig. 4: is a view in side elevation of the construction shownin Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, showing aslightly-modified arrangement embraced within the spirit and scope of myinvention.

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever itoccurs throughout the several views.

In carrying out myinvention I employ thick metal sheets, plates, or barsA, having holes or openings B therethrough and suitably spaced apartthroughout the length of the bars or plates A to form a rack to receivethe teeth or cogs of a suitable drive-wheel mounted upon the truck anddriven in any suitable manner, whereby the truck is advanced along theroadbed. The plates or bars A are arranged end to end throughout thelength of the road-bed or track-rails and at their ends are joinedtogether by means of fish-plates C, suitably lapped across the jointbetween adjacent bars or plates A and securely bolted or otherwisesecured to each plate, as'clearly shown. In practice and as shown thefish-plates are of a length corresponding to the length of the plates orbars A, containing three of the holes or openings B, and in practiceapproximate ends of adjacent plates or bars A acrosswhich thefish-plates are applied are spaced apart a distance corresponding to thespace occupied by one of the holes or openings B, and I provide thefish-plate with holes or openings (indicated by dotted lines at J) ateach end and also in the center thereof and respectively coinciding withthe terminal hole or opening B in each end of the adjacent plates orbars A and with the space between the proximate, ends of said- W platesor bars. Instead, however, of providing a central hole'or opening J inthe fish plate said fish-plate may be bowed or bent, as indicated at K,Fig. 5, at a point opposite the gap or opening between the proximate.

ends of adjacent plates or bars. The object and purpose of this bend orcorrugation in the fish-plate is to permit of any slight expansion andcontraction due to variations in temperature to which the combined thirdand traction rail may be subjected in use, the holes or openings J inthe ends of the fish-plate, however, in this instance being made toregister with the end holes or openings in the adjacent ends of theplates or bars A, which are secured together by such fish-plate.

The combined third and traction rail may be supported in any suitable orconvenient manner. I have shown a simple and efficient arrangementwherein supporting-sills D are arranged to extend lengthwise of thetrackrails and in any convenient relative arrangement with respect tothe track-rails, preferably between said track-rails. These sills D maybe supported or may rest upon the ordinary track-ties upon which thetrack-rails are supported. At suitable intervals apart I support uponthe sills D transverse blocks or pieces E, upon which the combined thirdand traction rail plates or bars A rest.

F designates stringers extending longitudinally with respect to thecombined third and traction rail and respectively arranged onoppositesides of the latter, said stringers resting upon and being supported bythe transverse blocks or pieces E. If desired, and preferably, thestringers F are rabbeted on their opposed or inner faces to receive theedges of the combined third and traction rail plates or bars A. Thestringers F may be secured by means of bolts, spikes, or the like(indicated at G) arranged to pass transversely therethrough, through thecross-pieces E, and into the sills D, as clearly shown. In this mannerthe side pieces or stringers F serve as keepers to retain the combinedthird and traction rail plates or bars A in suitable and proper alinement.

The holes or openings B may be formed in the plates or bars A and in thefish-plates in any convenient manneras, for instance, by punching thesame out.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide anexceedingly simple and efficient combined third and traction rail whichis strong and durable and economical in manufacture.

Having now set forth the object and'nature of my invention and aconstruction embodying the principles thereof, what Iclaim as new anduseful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a combined third and tractionrail comprising plates or bars arranged end to end and having suitablyspaced openings therethrough, in combination with plates lapped over thejoint at the abutting ends of said plates or bars and secured thereto,as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a combined third and tractionrail comprising plates or bars arranged end to end and havingsuitably-spaced openings therethrough, the proximate ends of adjacentplates or bars being separated a distance corresponding to the openingsformed through said plates or bars, in combination with plates lappedover the joint at the separated ends of said plates or bars and securedthereto, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a combined third and tractionrail comprising plates or bars arranged end to end and havingsuitably-spaced openings therethrough, in combination with plates lappedover the joint at the adjacent ends of said plates or bars and se curedthereto, said lapping plates having openings therethrough registeringwith the terminal openings adjacent to the ends of said firstmentionedplates or bars, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a combined third and tractionrail comprising plates or bars arranged end to end and having suitablyspaced openings therethrough, in combination with plates lapped over thejoint at the adjacent ends of said plates or bars and secured thereto,said lapping plates having a bent portion adjacent the joint between theabutting ends of said first-mentioned plates or bars, as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a combined third and tractionrail comprising plates or bars arranged end to end and havingsuitably-spaced openings therethrough, the proximate ends of adjacentplates or bars being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the areaof one of said openings, in combina-- tion with fish-plates lapped overthe joint at the abutting ends of said plates or bars and securedthereto, said fish-plates provided with a bend at a point adjacent thespace between the proximate ends of adjacent plates or bars, as and forthe purpose set forth.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a combined third and tractionrail comprising plates having suitably-spaced openings therethrough andarranged end to end, supportingsills arranged in longitudinal relationwith respect to said rails, cross-pieces or blocks mounted upon saidsills, said rail resting upon said cross-pieces or blocks, and stringersresting upon said cross-pieces or blocks and receiving said railtherebetween, said stringers forming keepers for said rail, as and forthe purpose set forth.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a combined third and tractionrail, a supportingsill therefor arranged in longitudinal relation withrespect thereto, transverse blocks or pieces mounted upon said sill, andupon which said rail rests, stringers arranged in longitudinal relationwith respect to said rail and spaced a suitable distance apart toreceive the rail therebetween, said stringers being rabhand, this 1stday of December, 1903, in the beted upon their meeting faces to receivethe presence of the subscribing Witnesses.

edges of said rail, said stringers resting upon said cross-pieces orblocks, and means for se- EDMUND MORGAN 5 curing said stringers,cross-pieces and sill to- Wltnesses:

gether, as and for the purpose set forth. E. C. SEMPLE,

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my S. E. DARBY.

